Lionel Messi responded to Ballon d'Or host in best way possible before he got axed

Ballon d'Or record-holder Lionel Messi delivered a perfect riposte to Didier Drogba after the Chelsea legend questioned his footballing legacy. That came after the former Blues striker once cast doubt over where Messi ranks among the sport's all-time greats.

Messi, 38, will be absent from Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris once again. Last year represented the first time since 2003 that neither he nor Cristiano Ronaldo appeared among the contenders, with both stars again excluded from the 2025 shortlist. Yet Messi's standing remains untouchable, given that no other footballer can rival his record haul of eight victories. He had already secured the prize five times when Drogba, who presented the Ballon d'Or from 2019 to 2024, questioned his position within the game.

"Messi could stop now and he would already have done a lot for football," he told AFP in 2018. "To win a World Cup would make him even more legendary. He's an extraordinary player!"

Most supporters fortunate enough to witness the player during his prime years would concur with that assessment. Nevertheless, it was Drogba's subsequent remarks comparing Messi and other legends that sparked controversy: "Messi is still not at the heights of [Diego] Maradona and Pele, but he's not far away."

Inter Miami star Messi went on to clinch the award three more times in 2019, 2021, and 2023, the year following his World Cup victory with Argentina. If Drogba had any reservations about Messi's prowess, these achievements would have surely cemented his view of the player, even when compared to greats like Maradona or Pele.

Drogba will not attend Monday's Ballon d'Or event in his usual role. He and French-British journalist Sandy Heribert were replaced as co-hosts, a role they held for the previous six ceremonies.

Instead, British presenter Kate Scott and Chelsea icon Ruud Gullit will lead the evening's proceedings in Paris. Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal are the favourites to be crowned the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner.

Messi's lasting influence is evident in his continued Ballon d'Or standing, even after his departure from Barcelona. His last two Ballons d'Or were secured while playing for PSG and Inter Miami.

This serves as evidence that it wasn't just the legendary teams he played for at the Camp Nou that made him a perennial contender. Furthermore, his World Cup triumph in 2022 was the final accolade some believed was missing to truly elevate him above legends like Pele or Maradona.

Drogba's omission from the Ballon d'Or podium is unlikely to be related to his previous critique of Messi's status among football legends. However, it may not have aided his cause when it came to assessing arguably the greatest player in history.